Shiseido America Inc. is going green in its latest environment-saving initiative. The company held a dedication ceremony on Oct. 24, 2007, for a new solar-electric power roof system to kick off its global solar energy initiative. The new solar-electric power system is located in the company's East Windsor, N.J., USA, facility.

The company first adopted an eco-policy in 1997 to encourage environmentally-conscious practices. The ceremony celebrated the first solar panel roof to be installed at any Shiseido facility worldwide.

The company expects the system to subsidize more than 30% of its energy costs. The 699-kilowatt solar roof was installed this past summer, when it generated nearly 40% of the company's needs at the facility, which houses manufacturing, R&D, package engineering and production.

According to the company, the solar roof will save 600 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually, which is equal to removing 59 cars from the road or planting 85 acres of trees.

The Shiseido solar panel roof is the largest single-roof solar system in New Jersey, according to the company. It covers 70% of the facility's warehouse. The company expects that the solar roof will pay for itself in six years, with estimated savings of nearly US$100,000 per year.